Indicating device



m. 17-. 1940. c. A. WOODWARD 2,215,260

INDICATING DEVICE Filed Feb. 5, 1937 v v Iwbenifgr:

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Wood ward; {W I Patented Sept. 17, 1940 UNlTE star-as PATENT FFICE 2.215.260 INDICATING DEVICE Application February 5, 1937, Serial No. 124,249

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in indicating devices and is directed to the provision of an improved device .of the character described adapted for attachment to a push button switch plate or the like support so as to make it possible for a person to determine if the circuit is open or closed.

An object of my invention is to provide an indicating device of simple and inexpensive construction which may be simply and conveniently applied to a support.

Referring to the drawing, in which I have illustrated preferred embodiments of my invention- Figure 1 is a front view of a push button switch 16 plate with my improved indicating device assembled therewith;

Fig. 2 is an edge View of the installation shown in Fig. 1 showing a lamp bulb behind the switch plate, a portion of the switch plate being shown 20 in cross-section;

Fig. 3 is a front plan view of my indicating device per se;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the device shown in Fig. 3;

25 Fig. 5 is a rear view of the device shown in Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. '7 is a rear view of a modified form of indicating device.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, I have shown a push button switch plate I of conventional form, which plate is provided with a pair of buttons 2 and 3 for actuating an electric 35 switching mechanism (not shown) so as to open or close the circuit. A lamp bulb l secured in a socket (not shown) is disposed behind the switch plate l and in line with a circular opening 5 in the switch plate. The lamp bulb 4 is 40 connected electrically with the switch mechanism in such a way that it lights when the circuit controlled by the push buttons 2 and 3 is closed in a manner well known in the art. My indicating device 6 has a holder member secured 45 to the plate I through yieldable means engaging the material of the plate adjacent the aperture 5. The holder member has an apertured face disposed opposite the aperture 5 of the support.-

A light transmitting plate is assembled with the 50 holder member in line with the opening 5 so that when the bulb 4 is lighted, light from the bulb is transmitted through the plate and the apertured face of the holder, indicating to a person that the electrical circuit is closed. 55 Referring to my preferred form of indicating device, as most clearly illustrated in Figs. 3-6 of the drawing, I have provided a holder member having a substantially cup-shaped portion 1. The walls at the open end of the cupshaped portion extend inwardly as at 8 (Fig. 6) 5 forming a support-engaging means in the form of a base flange 9 which is of greater diameter than the aperture 5 of the support I. Yieldable arm'portions Ill project from the inwardly-extending portion 8 of the flange 9 and are ar- 10 ranged, in my preferred form, in an annular series around the inner edge of the portion 8, as most clearly shown in Fig. 5. The arms II] are provided with shoulders II for engagement with the material of the support I adjacent the aperture 5 to secure the holder member to the support.

As a means for enabling light to pass through the holder, one or more openings l2 are provided in the material of the cup 1 facing the opening 5 of the support. The openings l2 are disposed about the center of the cup-shaped portion 1, in my preferred form, in a way to give a radiant effect when light shines through them, but it is understood that the number and arrangement of v the openings l2 in the cup-shaped portion 1 is purely a matter of design and forms no part of my present invention. A circular light-transmitting plate i3 is assembled with the holder member at the free end of the cup-shaped portion I. The plate i3 is formed of any suitable light-transmitting material and has a diameter slightly larger than that of an imaginary circle at the inside surfaces of the portions M of the flexible fingers l0 disposed near the points of the junction of the fingers H] with the inwardlyturned portion 8 of the flange 9, as shown in Fig. 6. In assembling the plate l3 with the holder member, the plate is moved through the imaginary circle defined by the free ends of the fingers l0 and then-is forced by the portions M of the fingers into abutting engagement with the material of the cup-shaped portion 1. After this action, the portions M of the fingers expand to engage the plate 13 under slight spring tension so as to hold the plate in assembly with the holder member.

The modified form of my indicating device, as shown in Fig. '7, differs from my first form by having attaching means in the form of a pair of opposed fingers In preferably of the annular series of fingers I0 shown in my first form, bent over so as to be superposed above a surface of the plate l3. As a result of this construction, the plate [3 is held in secure assembly with the holder member between the superposed portions of the fingers Ill and the material of the cupshaped portion 7.

It will thus be seen that the indicating devices .of my invention comprise a minimum number of comprising a holder member formed from a single piece of metal and a light-transmitting member assembled with said holder member, said holder member being generally cup-shaped and having a series of apertures formed in the bottom thereof so that said light-transmitting member may be visible through the apertures in said bottom, and a series of yieldable fingers adjacent to the rim of said cup-shaped portion, said fingers being shaped and arranged near their points of connection with said cup-shaped portion to permit forced passage of said light-transmitting member and to hold it in position in said cup-shaped portion as and for the purpose described. I

CLEMENT A. WOODWARD. 

